Gujarat Elections: Resurgent Congress

• BJP's formidable election machinery and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would see them through. One of the farmers shot back: But he's not going to lead the Gujarat government. The rest of the group nodded their heads in silence. It is this silence that is worrying BJP.
• BJP's worry is reflected in Modi's eight trips to Gujarat in the past five months. Like an indulgent parent making up for his absence, Modi has been on a gifting spree. He has announced or inaugurated projects worth over Rs 20,000 crore, not counting the Rs 1.1 lakh crore Ahmedabad - Mumbai bullet train for which the foundation stone was laid on Sep 14. The Sardar Sarovar dam project dedicated to the nation and also the inauguration of the first phase of the Rs 615 crore roll-on, roll-off ferry service between Ghogha and Dahej.

• Calling Gujarat elections the mother of all battles for both the BJP and the Congress would not be a misnomer. 
• Anti-incumbency will play a part for BJP has been in power in the state for 22 years. 
• There is the discontent over the Centre's twin economic moves - demonetisation and the GST.
• Opinion Poll in all 182 constituencies of the state shows the BJP bagging 115 - 125 seats and Congress winning 57 - 65 seats. But on the ground, the mood is less upbeat. 
• Rahul Gandhi has seen impressive crowds at his rallies and has successfully tapped disenchantment with the big bang reforms. The BJP strategy has been to carpet-bomb the electorate with development rhetoric. This rhetoric will be lost on the nearly five million first-time voters born after 1995 who have no memory of a time when the Congress ruled the state.
• For the Congress, a fourth consecutive loss in Gujarat will only add to its declining fortunes. But winning could reinvigorate the party ahead of the multiple state elections due in 2018 and the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
• While the BJP has a 48% vote share and the Congress 38%. A 6% swing in the Congress's favour could upset the BJP applecart.
• Clearly the BJP isn't getting the state on a platter this time. This time, it looks like it has its back to the wall, says a political analyst.
• Congress offered tickets to the three young Turks - Patidar agitation leader Hardik Patel, emerging Dalit icon Jignesh Mevani and OBC leader Alpesh Thakore. Thakore had become a hero in his community by running an anti-liquor reform movement under the banner of the Gujarat Thakore Sena. 
• Rising prices and the problems caused by the GST are troubling the BJP in many pockets, with the party not doing enough to remove the doubts of the small businessmen. 
• BJP will have to drop at least a third of its 120 MLAs, particularly the Patel MLAs targeted by Hardik. Though Patels are only between 12-15% of the electorate, there are 44 BJP Patel MLAs and 10 Patel ministers. 
• On Oct 9, Rahul Gandhi delivered a moving speech which drew quite a favourable response. He spoke out against the BJP's highhandedness, manifested in slogans like 'Congress mukt Bharat'. Everyone has a right to be in politics. Why should anyone think of erasing others from politics? We in the Congress never think in such negative terms.
• The impressive turnout in Rahul Gandhi's meetings could be an indicator of the public mood, showing that the public disapproved of the politics of defection played by the BJP.
• Congress party even though lacks a strong state leader to counter the Modi aura sees a glimmer of hope of victory in the absence of Modi from the state and the growing discontent with the BJP.
• The Congress has also played up the tanashahi charge against the BJP. Hardik Patel was jailed in 2015 for 'waging war against the state' and banished from Gujarat. The case of a businessman and party ticket contender after being threatened skipped a meeting with Rahul Gandhi. Such high-handedness is only going to strengthen the resolve of the people to throw the BJP out. The state government is insensitive and high-handed.
• A combination of agrarian stress and the Hardik-led popular movement may dent the BJP's Patel vote bank that swept it to power in 1995. 
• Congress party's social media team racked up some impressive successes against the BJP - a Vikas Gando Thayo Chee (Vikas Gone Crazy) campaign lampooning the vikas plank.

• The real challenge for the Congress is to woo the urban voter. Issues like water, electricity, and the struggles of farmers or tribals don't exist in the cities. In 2012, the BJP managed a near-clean sweep, winning 42 of the 46 seats in 6 cities.

It would better for India, if Congress wins in Gujarat. Then at least Modi will regain senses and rule the nation democratically shedding his dictatorial tendencies. This guy is behaving like erstwhile Nizam of Hyderabad and is unacceptable in this 21st century. He must be dumped in 2019 elections into trash bin.

Does India need a bullet train?

Owning a HSR network has become a status symbol for nations. This project will only enable our flamboyant politicians to tell international audiences on overseas platforms that in India we too have 'bullet trains'. Nothing more and nothing less. But costs of this exuberance are Rs.110,000 crores in capital expenditure and another Rs. 20,000 crores recurring maintenance expenditure. The project cost will go up by about ₹40,000 crore. This project cost partnered with Japan is front loaded to the extent of 59% to 97% is another matter. This is a wasteful project which only serves to deliver an illusory feel-good perception among the wealthy. But in the process some unscrupulous fellows will rise from rags to riches. That is another story. This is not our priority! Modi is singularly responsible and accountable for this insane act of national wastage which otherwise would have gone into healthcare, education, welfare of lower classes of Indian people. There are 15 countries worldwide in the exclusive high-speed rail fraternity. All bullet train companies are incurring huge losses and are supported by governments. While intangible benefits of bullet train are imaginary and unquantifiable the losses burdening the economy are frightening. 

Bullet train: Another oxymoron of Modi

Modi (PM Of India) and Shinzo Abe (PM of Japan)

• 508km Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train (HSR) project's estimated cost is Rs.110,000 crores. 80% i.e. 88,000 crores is a soft loan (0.1% interest payable from 16th through 50th years) from JICA, Japan and 20% i.e. Rs.22,000 crores to funded by Govt of India. 
• The JICA is notorious for funding projects in which Japanese companies are in the fray and there are often hidden costs.
• This Rs.22,000 crores will easily go up to Rs.50,000 crores, or even more, in due course.
• This project has been awarded to Japan on a “nomination basis”, without any competitive bidding process and with the direct negotiations by Modi with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. It is expensive when compared to Chinese rates by 59% to 97%.
• No competitive tendering, no cost benefit analysis or any other due diligence for minimizing costs and maximizing benefits was ever undertaken.
• Modi highlighting that "it is virtually free'' tantamount to lying and misleading the nation and doesn't befit his occupying PM chair.
• JPY/INR exchange risk is also going to be a huge burden. No one will hedge exchange rate risks beyond 6 months. INR is always a depreciating currency where as JPY an appreciating currency.
• The pricing of tickets would be close to flight travel tickets and hence useles for common man.
• Worldwide all bullet train projects are loss making and supported by government. This HSR project will be a white elephant and big drain on tax payers money for many decades.
• Mumbaikar's demanded 'we want basics not bullet trains' in response to Elphinstone Bridge stampede incident where 23 people lost lives on Sep 30, 2017.
• If we don’t dream big, we will never achieve big ... But these trophy projects drains scarce funds which otherwise rightfully would have gone for education, healthcare, drinking water, sanitation, transportation and welfare - benefiting lower strata of society. 
• Development with poorer classes funds is an outrageous model of development.

Gandhi's Talisman: Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him. Will he gain anything by it? Will it restore him to a control over his own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away.

Lemon Socialism ... socialise losses and privatise profits 

Commonsense tells us that we get best price only when we buy things with our own cash. Any kind of loans & financing will erode our bargaining capability and we will be saddled with not only interest charges but also hidden costs and front loading. Government borrowing money with soft interests with long term repayments is ok for investments in infrastructure benefiting masses and accelerating overall development in that region/ state/ country but not for nonviable political projects just for ego satisfaction and showcasing and displaying to foreigners and publicity devoid of any merit. Sardar Sarovar Dam's incomplete canal systems during his 13 years as CM of Gujarat, is a testimony for Modi's incompetency. GIFT city project is another white elephant. Like demonetization and mangled & unprepared GST roll out - bullet train will add to woes of nation. If it turns out to be scandalous, no one will be surprised. With Railway safety at its worst, priority is not bullet train but to invest and ensure safety of passengers. Finally, we don't have to compete with any one in the world; we just need to improve ourselves year after year, carrying all sections of people together.

Modi's vikas gone berserk in Gujarat

• In 2014, 'Vikas' (development) was the plank that helped Narendra Modi transition from Gujarat chief minister to India's prime minister.
• Vikas now symbolises the frustration of those who feel let down by the BJP in general and by Modi in particular.
• The phrase 'Vikas gando thai gayo chhe (Vikas has gone berserk)' is reverberating at every nook and corner of the state and there is no way the BJP can control this. The phenomenon was felt in a big way during Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad in Modi's company.
• Throughout Abe's visit to Gujarat, the people kept on circulating pictures of well-lit landmarks like the Nehru Bridge, Ellis Bridge and Sabarmati Riverfront, which is Modi's dream project, with the caption – 'Diwali of Vikas' father (Modi)'.
• Some of these pictures carried the question – 'Kona baap ni Diwali? (Whose father's Diwali is this?)' and the answer below was 'Vikas na Pappa ni (Vikas' father's)'. These pictures had an insert of Modi with the caption Vikas gando thai gayo chhe.
• While the Vijay Rupani-led government in Gujarat and the officials of the Modi-led Central government tried to play up the launch of the Bullet train project between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, the agitated people were in no mood to relent and came up with new humorous and sarcastic takes on it.
• The first one hit out at the prohibition policy in Gujarat with a message that went – 'Amdavadis can now hop on to the Bullet Train, enjoy the drinks in Happy Hours in Mumbai and return back home by the same train. There is no need to go all the way to Rattanpur (a town on Rajasthan side of the border with Gujarat that has become infamous for Gujaratis going there to binge on alcohol).'
• The second one said – 'We do not go in for even new vehicles during Shraddha period and here the foundation is being laid for the Bullet Train. Hope this train will run?'.
• People made jibes at a channel running the headline 'Bullet yug ki shuruat (Beginning of Bullet era)' by posting a counter on Modi's tenure that was marked by anti-Muslim pogrom and the subsequent phase of 'fake' encounters that said – 'As if it (the bullet era) started 16 years back in Gujarat'.
• There was another message referring to Railways Minister Piyush Goyal saying that the Bullet Train in Japan and he were born on the same date. The question posed was whether India is seeing the advent of yet another 'Iron Man'.
• Another quoted the Maharashtra chief minister saying that the Bullet Train would lead to an increase in the country's GDP. This was taken down with the comment – 'Perhaps he has not seen the latest GDP figures'.
• Then Rupani was quoted as saying that Modi perplexes everyone with new concepts every day. The qualifying comment was – 'Every Indian is under this impact since 2014'.
• With Navratri round the corner, Garba songs have started coming out in the market with lyrics like 'Vikas gando thayo chhe'. The video of this song also has a morphed visual of Rupani saying the words.
• There are references in the songs, saying that Vikas has become an integral part of inflation, fuel price hike, poverty, public loot in the name of Goods and Services Tax and demonetisation etc.
• Modi had used Navratri as a platform right from 2003 onwards to give a makeover to his image of a hardline Hindu leader. Now it is the Vikas videos that are hitting at him and several of them are expected to come up by the time the Navratri revelry hits its peak. And they will in all probability keep on playing in local autos and shops right till the State Assembly polls.
• There is also an audio message from an Ahmedabad resident that has gone viral where the speaker has taken on Modi for the poor management of the Indian railway network. He says: “Earlier people used to send the message that they have reached their destination. Now they say that they have reached ALIVE. Abe agreeing to put in money for this Bullet Train despite Modi's poor track record only shows that Amdavadis are shrewd businessmen who can take anyone for a ride.”
• He then goes on to load his message with high-pitch sarcasm adding – “Modi has been trying to run the Bullet Train named Vikas for the last three years but blame it on his inexperience he has put it in the reverse gear. "Bhakts are happy that the train is running but are not aware that it is running in the reverse direction. Hence the GDP is going in the reverse direction, the rupee is on the reverse against the dollar, business and employment are also in reverse and so has been the impact of demonetisation. "The economists have been shrieking at him to apply the brakes. But since he is running this train for the first time, every time he tries to apply the brakes he steps on the accelerator. "The request (to Abe) is that there is no problem if you give a Bullet Train but please explain the functioning of gears and brakes because you will go back with a fruitful business deal and Modi's Vikas will derail at the speed of the Bullet Train.”
• Vikas jokes are doing the rounds among every section of the society. The most prominent one is about Zilla Vikas Adhikari (District Development Officers), Naib Vikas Adhikari (Deputy Development Officers) and Taluka Vikas Adhikari (Block Development Officers) asking the government to remove Vikas from their designation because people are tempted to suffix 'Gando thai gayo' (Has gone mad) with it. 
• There is another message that comes as a question – “Why did nine girls break their engagements in the last one week?” The answer is – “Because the name of the boy was Vikas.”

Be nice to those you meet on the way up because you will meet them on the way down

This reminds me of popular saying paraphrased as what you throw up will come back and fall on your face with double the speed and weight. While anti Congress propaganda so far was the work of BJP's paid backroom boys and its unemployed troll brigade aspiring to be in limelight this one anti Modi propaganda in social media is from disgruntled people who felt severely let down by Modi during the past 3.5 years. Modi often claims that he is relentlessly fighting corruption but if he wants to walk the talk he must disclose source of funds to BJP and its expenses to public. Unless he does that, what ever he talks is shallow and hollow.

Modi's failures

Modi ascended to power in 2014 riding on the tsunami of anti-incumbency of scam ridden Congress led UPA. While Modi is still drawing huge crowds abroad with his charisma and is darling of upper middle classes which are in complete disconnect with lower classes, peasants & rural population is a colossal failure in India during the past two and half years, despite favorable crude oil prices at less than one third of its peak prices. Their argument that "those who governed us for 60 years should not ask for an appraisal in merely 24 months" is untenable.


Here is the list of failures:

1. Industry stagnating and exports are falling consistently.
2. Inflation especially food inflation is rising.
3. Job creation dismal. Textiles, leather, metals, automobiles, gems and jewellery, transport, information technology and the handloom sectors together created just 135,000 jobs during 2015, 67 per cent lower than 421,000 jobs that were added in 2014, the last year of the Manmohan Singh government.
4. Make in India remains a slogan only.
5. Bringing back black money in Swiss banks etc in 100 days remains a shallow promise.
6. PSU Bank's NPA doubled from Rs.2.86 to Rs.5.71 lakh crores in the past one year, due to default by corporate's close to ruling BJP. Improving liquidity or recapitalization needed urgently for banks remain operational.
7. Despite crude oil prices falling by 70% from its peak prices, consumer sale prices were reduced by just 15%. GOI retained 85% advantage to itself by increasing excise duty etc.
8. Riding on the wave of low oil prices, Modi government hasn't made any meaningful impact on Indian economy so far.
9. The BJP had promised to increase the Minimum Support Price (MSP) at the rate of cost of production along with 50 per cent profit. Agricultural sector is in distress with  no hike in Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers.
10. The biggest failure, however, is the mishandling of the agriculture and drought situation across the country and the continuing neglect of agriculture. While Modi promises to double agricultural incomes, it is yet to be seen how he will achieve that target. Agricultural growth rate has fallen from about an average of 3.7 per cent per year under UPA to just about one per cent in Modi's tenure.
11. The drought situation was totally neglected. The drought manuals and rules by the government itself said that water trains and tankers are to be pressed into service as last resort and number of steps ought to have been taken before reaching that step which the government at the centre and state missed. Lack of seriousness by the government of India in assessing and mitigating the drought situation and crisis worsened afflicting nearly 33 crore Indians across several states. Drought is, perhaps, the only natural calamity one can plan against in advance, unlike floods and earthquakes. National Disaster Management Authority manual on management of drought speaks of "drought mitigation" as part of public policy and not just drought relief but this was clearly lost on the Modi government.
12. All schemes are being renamed and repacked with reduced central contributions passing on the burden on states. They are unable to conceive any new sensible scheme so far on their own.
13. Cross border firings and ceasefire violations in Jammu & Kashmir are at a high.
14. Modi's Pakistan policy and his foreign policy is defective. It has been driven by style over substance, adventurism over analysis; by self projection, vanity and petty domestic political calculations over larger interests. The ministry of external affairs has been more like a tour operator or logistics handler, and not a source of policy and executive inputs. Modi's relentless foreign travel remained pleasure trips burdening exchequer.
15. Income Declaration Scheme (IDS) remained a big failure, despite tough talk.
16. Demonetization of big notes of Nov 8, 2016, except for its secrecy in unveiling failed to achieve any of its stated objectives viz. black money, fake money, terrorist financing & corruption except causing disruption to civic life in all segments especially informal economy, agriculture and rural economy apart from causing innumerable difficulties for common man for exchanging old notes or withdrawing their own cash from banks. About 70 people died standing in bank/ATM queues and 15 bank employees died due stress and long work hours continuously. Manmohan Singh had rightly remarked that "I do not disagree with the objectives but the process of demonetization is monumental mismanagement and is a case of organised loot and legalized plunder of the common people".
17. Failed to recover Rs.8,000 crores lent to King Fischer Vijay Mallya who has absconded and banks have just written off as bad loans.
18. GST bill still incomplete.
19. Swachh Bharat, Yoga, LPG subsidy give up & Cashless transaction campaigns, even though good, doesn't deserve that much high decibel campaigns.
20. Smart Cities & Digital India projects are yet to take off from the ground despite announcements a year ago.
21. Has not fulfilled many of the AP Reorganization Act 2014 commitments or BJP promises of 2014 election campaigns to Andhra Pradesh. Whatever little has been done was with delay of two years reducing its impact and results.
22. Diverting lot of money for his pet project Ahmedabad - Mumbai bullet train which serves only rich & upper middle classes with ticket price of Rs.3,000.
23. Many agreements and concessions for enriching richer people but nothing for poor or rural population.
24. Modi and his Cabinet colleagues foreign trips cost the exchequer Rs.567 crore during 2015-16, an increase of more than 80% from the previous year Rs 269 crore. This is besides the over Rs.500 crore spent by his bureaucrats on their foreign travel.
25. Reliance has resorted to stealing gas from ONGC gas fields during 2009-11 to the tune of Rs.12,000 crores. Against the consultant recommended claim of ONGC for Rs.30,000 crores Modi passed orders on Reliance to pay up Rs.10,000 crores recently. This was contested in courts by Reliance.
26. Recollect BJP's political failed adventures in Uttarakhand and Arunchal Pradesh to usurp power leading to a suicide by an innocent Ex-CM in Arunachal Pradesh. It was rumored that BJP spent Rs.15 crore per MLA crossing in intense horse-trading.
27. NDA and all state governments are spending lots of money on advertisement campaigns while doing very little on the ground.
28. While Assam's BJP win can't be termed as endorsement of Modi's government, Delhi & Bihar's defeat is a clear rejection for Modi. In all the five states that went to the polls recently, BJP dropped its vote share since 2014, and minus Assam. Even the Congress party scored nearly twice as many Assembly segments compared to the BJP. The Modi tsunami is now withdrawing back to the sea and those who revelled when it hit the coast are now in a real danger of being drowned by it.
29. Artificial JNU controversy on nationalism is another black spot on Modi.
30. Modi government seemed more keen on confrontation than conciliation in order to get tricky legislation's passed. Consequently, very little has actually got done on the development and economic front.

The reason for the victory of Narendra Modi was the tremendous support he got from first-time young voters and floating voters who saw him as the best alternative then may very well change their opinion come 2019 and that is the nature of a fence sitter who isn't ideologically wedded to what the BJP represents.

Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel but in the case of Modi's government, pseudo-patriotism is the last resort of the incompetent.

My View:

The last two years, if seen in totality, offer very little for the Modi government to gloat about. Modi government harping on the past that Congress hasn't done anything is futile. While Congress was certainly bad, they never meddled with the lives & livelihood of poor & peasants. In the absence of strengthening Lok Pal & RTI bringing Politicians, Bureaucrats, Judiciary & Businessmen under its purview, granting autonomy and teeth to CBI, CVC  & ACB etc and no steps to enforce transparency & accountability, Modi's talk about elimination of corruption & black money etc is shallow and is a mere lip service. Modi should do something for the nation with sincerity of purpose evident rather than blaming Congress for all the ills of nation even after two and half years of ascending to power. It sounds nice only during first quarter and second quarter but sounds awkward in the 10th quarter. Above all, Modi government in collision course with Supreme Court regarding judges appointment matters for prolonged periods of over an year doesn't august well irrespective of merits.

Modi grants nothing to Telangana state as well.

• For Godavari pushkaralu during 2015, centre has granted Rs.100 crores for AP and Rs.50 crores where as expenditure was several hundreds of crores. This discrimination was objected to by KCR.
• For Krishna pushkaralu this year 2016, the expenditure is huge at Rs.1,080 crores by AP Govt and Rs.800 crores by TS Govt. TS demanded 75% i.e. Rs.600 crores grant from Centre. Centre has rejected its assistance for both the states.
• Modi inaugurated Telangana's Mission Bhagiratha Phase I costing Rs.858 crores on August 7, 2016. KCR requested Modi for Central assistance of 80% for Rs.42,000 crore Mission Bhagiratha and Modi gave nothing.
• Even though KCR spent more than Rs.50 crores for the Modi's inauguration and praised him a lot, Modi also praised KCR but didn't announce any specific support to any project much to disappointment of KCR & Co. 
• KCR's non-stop praising of Modi is due to a CBI case pending and recent questioning of him by CBI for allegaed corruption in ESI Hospital construction case.
  None of the KCR's projects like Kakatiya Mission, Kaleswaram project, Hyderabad's ITIR project, Palamuru-Dindi LI scheme etc are awaiting Modi's mercy for funds. Of course TS hasn't followed any procedures for obtaining any clearances for these projects, is another matter.
• Earlier in 2015 while laying foundation stone for AP capital Amaravati, contrary to expectations of people of AP, Modi announced nothing and gave only a pot of Yamuna water and Parliament house's pouch of earth and tried to arouse sentiment. While Naidu spent about Rs.200 crores for the function and got nothing in return from Modi.

So it is clear that Modi is only a taker and gives nothing to anybody.

• During his two year regime crude oil prices fell by more than 80%. Modi passed on only 20% to people and retained 80% with centre by increasing excise duty.
• He has minimized LPG subsidy and also removed subsidy for higher income people.
• While 14th Finance Commission increased state's share of central taxes from 32% to 42% and centre accepted  the report in toto but centre has withdrawn from several jointly funded welfare schemes by much more amount. These schemes will have to continue at state's expense thus in totality centre is benefited financially by implementing the report.
• Modi announced Rs.1000 crores help to Visakhapatanam destroyed by 'Hudud' but state received only Rs.400 crores whereas damages are in excess of Rs.8,000 crores.

Modi sanctions 'Bullet Train' to Ahmedabad-Mumbai route at Rs.100,000 expenditure while Rs.80,000 external soft loans and centre's contribution is in excess of Rs.25,000 crores. He has kept aside 6 priority routes identified by experts during UPA regime and sanctions Ahmedabad-Mumbai route.

Modi appears like 'PM of Gujarat' rather than 'PM of India' 

like Deve Gowda PM of Karanataka in the past.

BJP & Modi makes mockery of AP Reorganization Act 2014

Centre is supposed to resolve the teething issues between AP and TS which couldn't be resolved by them mutually with in a month or two, as per the AP Reorganization Act 2014  and also directed by the Supreme Court in its recent judgement.

The list of unresolved, teething and burning issues, even after two years of states reorganization, are:

1. Role of governor in maintenance of law and order in Hyderabad.
2. Division of institutions listed in Schedules 9 & 10 of the Act.
3. Delay in bifurcation of High Court.
4. Granting special category status to AP.
5. Granting incentives for promotion of new industries in AP.
6. Increasing Assembly seats in AP & TS, which requires Constitution amendment.
7. Sharing of power.
8. Sharing of Krishna & Godavari river waters.
9. Inaction by KRMB and Apex council.
10. Operation of Nagarjuna Sagar & Srisailam dams and its power houses.
11. Release of adequate funds to AP for (i) budget deficit gap reimbursement (ii) Capital city construction and (iii) Polavaram dam construction
12. Delaying funds for construction of buildings etc for national institutions started in temporary premises.
13. Dugarajapatnam port sanction got diverted to Tamil Nadu.
14. Kadapa steel plant conveniently forgotten.
15. Railway zone for AP yet to be announced.
16. Srisailam based LI projects by TS without water allocation and approvals will effect downstream AP's agriculture interests.

However, the Central Government headed by Narendra Modi of BJP is maintaining stoic silence over teething and burning issues purely for political reasons and protecting BJP's prospects in these states. On the contrary it is making vicious campaign that they are doing lot more than what they are supposed to do and they will fulfill all provisions made in the Act but never states when.

In most matters, AP is in disadvantageous position and is greatly disappointed for not getting enough central assistance & support even after two years of bifurcation despite being coalition partner at centre and in AP.

Like Deve Gowda was stated as PM of Karnataka, Modi is unable to see anything beyond Gujarat reflected by the recent visit of Chinese premier to Gujarat only and announcing several Chinese projects for Gujarat. And also Modi granted bullet train to Ahmedabad-Mumbai route only (in place of Ahmedabad-Mumbai-Pune route) and keeping aside five other equally or more important routes.

My View:
Arun Jaitley's statement in RS stating that AP just because is a coalition partner can't be given more funds is not only offensive but also insult to people of AP. First of all let him fulfill his legal obligations to AP as defined in the AP Reorganization Act 2014 and recollect promises made by Modi, Venkaiah Naidu and himself in various fora and fulfill them. After that the matter of favors comes into picture. The pertinent questions are just because AP is their coalition partner can't be deprived of their legitimate rights and keep them perennially waiting for central assistance. BJP trying to appease non coalition state governments (like TS, Orissa & TN) for political reasons* at the expense of coalition partners (like AP) is not only wrong but also unacceptable non-sense.

While Sonia Gandhi, Congress and UPA made blunder of passing defective AP Reorganization Bill 2014, circumventing the conventions & procedures with the help of BJP, now BJP & Modi are making mockery by not implementing their obligations of the Act and not rectifying the mistakes made in that Act and making irresponsible statements in Parliament belittling themselves.

Congress was buried in AP in 2014 elections then for their misdeeds now BJP is also heading for the same in next elections in AP.

* BJP requires support of TRS, AIADMK and BJD for passage of  GST bill in RS.
  Special category status denied to appease TRS and AIADMK.
  Polavaram delayed to appease BJD.

Bulllet Train - Mumbai Ahmedabad

Salient features:

Mumbai - Ahmedabad bullet train

1. The proposed Mumbai - Ahmedabad bullet train will run at 350 kmph whereas the present fastest Shatabdi Express runs at 160 kmph. It will be 8th high speed train in the world. 
2. The 508 km distance will be traveled in just 2 hours. At present Ahmedabad-Mumbai flight takes 2.5 hours including check in time. 
3. It is expected that around 36,000 daily users per day both ways by 2023, going up to 186,000 by 2053. 
4. The non-stop journey from Ahmedabad to Mumbai will take 2.07 hours. There is another train stopping at all the 12 stations enroute will take 2.58 hours. The 12 stations are Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.  At present, Duronto Express takes about seven hours to cover this distance.
5. The bullet train work will start in 2017 and competed in 2022-23.
6. Out of Rs. 97,636 crores total cost, 80% loan will be be provided by Japan at 0.1% interest repayable in 50 years, with 15 years moratorium. Total duration of Bullet Train Project would be 12-13 years.
7. Construction cost would be Rs.140 crores per km where as Delhi Metro costed Rs.175 crores per km and Vijayawda Metro cost estimated at Rs.288 crores per km. While the cost of construction of a normal railway route is Rs 5 crore per km, the estimated expenditure on the high speed railway line for bullet train will be Rs 140 crore per km.
8. In 2010 UPA govt sanctioned the feasibility report for 6 bullet train routes (including Ahmedabad-Mumbai route). In 2012 Narendra Modi, the then CM of Gujarat, visited Japan, traveled in Bullet Train and then requested centre to include Ahmedabad-Mumbai route. It was included since it was cheapest and best suited route for Bullet Train Project. Entire process took 6-7 years study and 5-6 years of building the project totaling 13 years

9. 

   Modi travelling in Bullet Train in Japan in 2012

10. The Ministry of Railways has proposed a tariff for the upcoming bullet train service between Mumbai and Ahmedabad that will be 1.5 times the first class AC fare prevailing now. In Duronto Express, the current AC 1st Class fare between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, is Rs.2,200. This means, for the 508-km run between the two cities — via a dedicated, high-speed corridor — the fare will be around Rs.3,300. In Japan, a similar, 550-km run between Tokyo and Osaka  costs around Rs.8,500.
11. According to a study 55 per cent of air passengers, 55 per cent of high-end train passengers, 38 per cent of luxury bus users and 22 per cent of car users will shift to the bullet train in the first year of operations.

The six routes considered for bullet train study and implementation during UPA regime are (1)  Delhi-Patna (2) Pune-Mumbai-Ahmedabad (3) Howrah-Haldia (4) Delhi-Chandigarh-Amritsar (5) Hyderabad-Dornakal-Vijaywada-Chennai and (6) Chennai-Bengaluru-Coimbatore-Ernakulum  and curiously Ahmedabad-Mumbai route is being taken up first by Narendra Modi government. 

After all technology determines what can be done, economics determines what should be done and politics determines what will be done.

My View:
The bullet train fare near about Airfare clearly eliminates its usage by middle & lower classes. No prudent middle class or salary earner will travel by this bullet train, except during emergency situations.

Even though soft loan* with moratorium etc seems justification for this investment, it is unlikely that similar loans could be arranged for subsequent bullet train projects that will follow. Eventually, for all bullet train projects loans consolidated, we end up paying market rates for the loans. That is how advanced countries sell their products in developing countries.

At a time (after about 70 years of independence) when we need to invest heavily for providing basic amenities like drinking water, sanitation, primary education, primary health care to the deprived classes amounting to almost 50% of population, investment of this kind of money, whether soft loan or own funds, on classy luxuries for the benefit of rich people is not appreciated. Ours is a democracy and if we take referendum on this large proposed investment, I am sure at least 60-70% will vote against it.

*Soft loan is only for 80% and remaining 20% our own funds. Add to that over heads will be another 10% making our own investment of whopping Rs.30,000 crores for this bullet train project in one corridor is highly debatable especially when some Railway Projects in Andhra Pradesh are still on drawing board even after 25 years waiting for funds allocation.

Only yesterday, our FM Arun Jailtley was weeping (crocodile tears, of course) in RS saying that with budget deficit of 6.9% he is unable to allocate funds for Polavaram project, the life line for Andhra Pradesh, and extend financial support to AP as committed in AP Reorganization Act 2014. From where this money would come for bullet train project for the benefit of Modi's Gujarati rich business friends? I wonder!